GROWING OF COTTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19743, 16 September 1927, Page 13

GROWING OF COTTON.

REVIVAL IN NIUE ISLAND. ENCOURAGEMENT OF NATIVES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER ] WELLINGTON. Thursday An attempt to re-introduce the cotton industry on Nine Island was made during the year., states the annual report on the Cook Islands. To stimulate native interest a statement was prepared and issued in the Niue language on "Instructions on the Planting arid Cultivation of the Cotton Seed," and to show that the Administration was anxious to establishthe industry and to set an example the Government reserve known as Palaiti. which has an area of about three acres, was cleared, cleaned and planted in cotton seed. As sonn as the natives saw this they were ail keen to plant, and the balance of the 2001b. of seed obtained from Samoa was distributed among 20 natives who had clearer] land for this purpose. Unfortunately tie results were very disappointing, as not more than 5 per cent, of the seed germinated. This was due to the use of seed of a vr -.ety other thar, the sea island cotton, and it was therefore decided not to further experiment with the former, but to obtain a supplv of the latter variety. An ordeT for 5001b was placed for this seed, ar.d was expected to arrive in December last, but unfortunately it did not come to hand in time for this season's planting. It is interesting to note that the cotton industry some 30 to 40 years ago was the mam industry of this island, but owing to the f>nor prices obtained at that time it was allowed to lapse. The Administration desires to again establish this industry, as it gives promise of being of ereat hprieSt to the people. THE PUBT.Tr SERVICE. CLASSIFICATION LIST. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Thursday The Prime Minister announced in the House to-day that the public service classification list would be available nest week.